Hades nodded. Had he not said as much to Persephone? Persephone, who waited for him in the tree… Alone.
“Then we must pray that Ariston is such a leader,” Poseidon spoke, taunting Athena with a smile. “Did he show such initiative while serving in the Temple?” Poseidon’s voice rang out, his enjoyment evident to all.
Hades watched them. Did Poseidon know Ariston? Did Athena? He feared he’d embroiled himself in something more. For Athena stared at Poseidon, her face flushed with unspoken fury. All waited, he thought, for her retort. But she said nothing; an odd turn of events, for Athena was never one to hold her tongue.
He cared not. He would leave.
“He had little chance to prove his prowess while playing caretaker,” Ares snorted. “But I’ve seen him fight. His death was glory. He will bring down the Persians.”
“Apparently he has the incentive to do just that.” Hera smiled. “A rare husband indeed.”
“It is, I think, rare to find such loyalty. Be it mortal or immortal,” Aphrodite said.
Hades silently agreed. Such loyalty, to a woman, was puzzling. He had yet to decide whether he pitied or envied Ariston.
“I, too, have seen this Ariston in battle,” Apollo’s words interrupted Aphrodite. “He resembles our Ares, only slightly less immortal.”
“You’ve done well, Hades.” Zeus praised his younger brother before all.
Hades face remained impassive, shielding his impatience. “Then I shall leave you,” he spoke softly as he rose.
Poseidon rolled his eyes. “You rarely venture to Olympus, brother. Why do you feel the need to quit it already?”
Hades refused to be baited by his brother. It would please Poseidon too much.
“Have you captured some nymph and stolen her away to the Underworld?” Ares teased.
“Not that I have seen,” Apollo joined in.
Hades stifled the urge to sigh. Were duty and honor so trivial? No nymph, no woman, had such a hold on him. He would never allow such trivial things to drive him.
“If the rays of your sun were as well-reaching as the cast of your eye, then Athens’ crops might fare better.” Demeter patted Apollo’s hand gently.
As gentle a rebuff as it was, her point was made. Duty trailed their pursuits for entertainment, their curious preoccupation with gossip. Hades applauded her silently.
“Can my brother be tempted with sins of the flesh?” Zeus asked, inspecting him with too much interest.
Could he? Green eyes flashed before him, making him rigid. He could not meet Zeus’s eyes.
“You tease him,” Athena snapped. “Is that not excuse enough to leave?”
Hades turned, startled by her exclamation. Indeed, all eyes turned to regard Athena.
She looked greatly troubled, more so than he’d ever seen. But her city was threatened and her people at risk. She had reason to feel troubled.
“May he prove himself worthy of your bargain,” Ares said. “Ariston, that is. I thank you for returning him to the living, Hades.”
“He was most persuasive.” He had never seen a man more desperate. It had startled him, and humbled him. Who was he to deny this man? He knew all too well the pain Ariston suffered…
“Love can be most persuasive indeed.” Aphrodite smiled.
“Or distracting,” Demeter added.
Hera shook her head. “Love can be dangerous, too.”
He held his tongue. I know this, all too well. But love was not his lot in life.
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